Flipper Can Find It: US Navy Uses Dolphins to ‘Sniff’ for Mines

Dolphin with mine marker
(click to view larger)

Just as the dog’s keen sense of smell makes it well suited to detect land mines, so the US Navy has found that the biological sonar of dolphins, called echolocation, makes them effective at locating and marking sea mines.

To take advantage of these skills, the Navy Marine Mammal Program studies, trains, and deploys dolphins, as well as sea lions, to carry out various underwater tasks for the Navy.

As part of the program, the Fleet’s Marine Mammal Systems (MMS) use dolphins and sea lions to find and mark the location of underwater objects…

NITEK to Supply HMDS Mine Detection Vehicles to the Canadian Government

NITEK’s HMDS Vehicle

NITEK in Sterling, VA received a $16.4 million firm-fixed-price contract to supply 2 Husky Mounted Detection Systems (HMDS), installation, new equipment training, initial spare parts, training manuals and 24 months of sustainment of these systems for the Canadian government.

The HMDS provides troops with enhanced capabilities to detect IEDs and antitank mines along heavily traveled roads…

Sierra Nevada Gets $106.9M in Dismounted Counter-IED Jammer Orders

Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, NV received 2 follow-up orders to supply Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) 3.1 dismounted systems to meet the requirements of US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dismounted JCREW systems are electronic jammers designed to prevent the initiation of radio-controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIED).

Under the original contract (N00024-09-C-6306) awarded June 2009, Sierra Nevada is to provide up to 2,500 JCREW 3.1 dismounted systems, support equipment and services, and additional long-lead time material, for a total contract value of $248.3 million.

Sierra has received 2 contract modifications on that original contract worth $106.9 million to supply parts and material for the JCREW dismounted systems…

$19.3M to Booz Allen for Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Study

Minding the Mine

Booz Allen Hamilton in Herndon, VA received a $19.3 million contract to provide the U.S. Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technical Division with survivability/vulnerability analyses, assessment and evaluations. The contract (SP0700-03-D-1380) is being awarded as part of the Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center (SURVIAC) program managed by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

The Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technical Division in Indian Head, MD provides engineering and technical services in support of Joint service explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) programs and other customer requirements. The division focuses its efforts in the following areas: developing EOD procedures to counter munitions threats; developing tools and equipment to meet EOD operational needs; and performing in-service engineering, depot level management and repair for EOD tools and equipment.

DID has more on the work being done under the SURVIAC program…

Up to $248.3M to Sierra Nevada for Dismounted Counter-IED Jammers

Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, NV won a $36.5 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-only contract for production of Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) 3.1 dismounted systems to meet the requirements of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dismounted JCREW systems are electronic jammers designed to prevent the initiation of radio-controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIED). ITT Corp., which supplies the JCREW 2.1 vehicle mounted system, and Northrop Grumman were also competing for this contract.

According to the FedBizOpps solicitation, Sierra Nevada will provide 200 JCREW 3.1 dismounted systems, support equipment and services, and additional long-lead time material. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would result in Sierra Nevada supplying an additional 2,300 systems for a cumulative value of $248.3 million. The contract includes 9,000 hours of engineering support services (ESS) for the initial 200 systems and 13,000 hours of ESS for the option quantity of 2,300 systems, field service representative support in-theater, depot level repair material and services, spares, and associated technical data.

Sierra Nevada will perform the work in Sparks, NV (90%) and Rancho Cordova, CA (10%), and expects to complete it by December 2010. This contract was competitively procured via the FedBizOpps website, with 3 proposals solicited and 3 offers received by the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC (N00024-09-C-6306). See also Sierra Nevada release.

$16.5M to Ronco to Remove Mines in Afghanistan

Ronco Consulting Corp. in Washington, DC received a $16.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for de-mining and unexploded explosive ordnance removal in Afghanistan. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, and is expected to be complete by March 28, 2008. There were 414 bids solicited on Feb. 25, 2007, and 2 bids were received (popular job, evidently). The Joint Contracting Command – Iraq/Afghanistan in Baghdad, Iraq issued the contracts (W91B4N-07-F-0028).

Since 1981, Ronco Consulting has worked extensively on more than 300 development projects, and over 200 mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), and security projects around the world. The firm is currently operational in Afghanistan (including both aid work and work in “the scariest place I had ever seen”), Sudan, Eritrea, Iraq, Lebanon, Mozambique, Sri Lanka – and even stateside in the USA. By most accounts, however, Afghanistan is the most heavily mined country in the world; a souvenir from the Soviet era.

Ronco Consulting is hiring, but be aware that they’re a “drug-free workplace.” Damn, we sure would hope so.

Counter-IED Facilities Under Construction in Indian Head, MD

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington in Washington, DC has issued contracts for construction of facilities at Indian Head, MD related to explosives disposal and counter-IED work. NAVSEA’s Energetics Center also resides at Indian Head, which makes it an appropriate location to address issues like IED land mines.

Thus far, all contracts have been awarded to John C. Grimberg Co., Inc. of Rockville, MD.

Up to $150.8M for APOBS Minefield Breaching Kits

APOBS

The Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System (APOBS) is used to clear areas and create footpaths for troops moving in an area with mines or wire obstacles. It replaces the Bangalore Torpedo, which was heavier, took longer to set up, and required four times the number of people to carry.

Now small business qualifier Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Co. in Simsbury, CT has received a $12.6 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for production, testing, and delivery of APOBS. Video of APOBS in action can be found on the company’s web site [QuickTime, Low-Res 182 kb | Hi-Res 1.2 MB]. This contract also has the potential to increase in value very significantly…

$300M = Over 17,000 Portable Mine-Detectors for US Troops

AN/PSS-14 at work

In late December 2005, DID noted that the USA has spent $1 billion on humanitarian land-mine removal over the last 10 years. A year ago, on August 16, 2005, we noted a $38 million contract to CyTerra for its AN/PSS-14 (formerly HSTAMIDS) Mine Detection Sets. Someone must have liked them, because L-3 recently announced that its March 2006 acquisition CyTerra has received a 10-year, $300 million contract for over 17,000 more sets as well as Sweep Monitoring Systems for training, Training Target Sets, and worldwide training and support. The value of the first order is approximately $24 million. The US Army and Marines currently have about 2,000 delivered sets in their possession. See corporate release.

Cyterra is an excellent example of the small-mid cap dynamic in the US defense sector generally.

The AN/PSS-14 employs a state-of-the-art metal detector and ground penetrating radar (GPR), coupled with an advanced microprocessor array and software in order to achieve a high probability of detection (in excess of 95%) for both large and small metallic and even nonmetallic antitank and antipersonnel mines. They’ve even been used to find underground pipes in civilian applications. It also significantly reduces the number of false targets or alarms. The apparatus weighs approximately eight pounds, uses standard batteries and can be operated by a single Soldier. See this U.S. Army page re: all countermine equipment in current use.

$191.9M more to AM General for M1151 & M1152 Humvee Jeeps

M1114 On Patrol in Iraq

The Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI has issued a trio of recent modifications under a firm-fixed-price contract (DAAE07-01-C-S001) to AM General LLC in South Bend, IN for M1151 and M1152 Humvee up-armored jeeps. The awards total $191.9 million ($75.8 million M1152 + $9 million M1152 2-man + $107.1 million M1151-P1). Work will be performed in South Bend, IN, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2007. This was a sole source contract initiated on July 17, 2000.

DID has been reporting substantial contracts for these vehicles since March 4, 2005. M1151s are Enhanced Armament Carriers, M1152s are Enhanced Troop/ Cargo/ Shelter Carriers, and M1152P1s are ambulances. They’re based on the same “A2” chassis as the M1114 up-armored Humvee and may be hard to tell apart, but there is an important difference…